Long before they dance under lights on Coronation night, Howard’s Royal Court members spend their days balancing rehearsals, community service projects and campus outreach.
Eden Boles, a senior biology major from Little Rock, Arkansas, holds the title of the 87th Miss Howard University. Royal Court members commit considerable time to their duties, and preparing for events such as Coronation requires extensive planning according to her.
“I feel like it’s 24 hours out of the day, but for real I spend maybe like five to eight hours per day on anything Royal Court related,” Boles said. “And that’s including if I have to go to an appearance or leading a tour or whatever it may be.”
Hamid Jalloh, the 49th Mr. Howard University, described Coronation as a moment of powerful reflection. He said it is the official inauguration of Mister and Miss Howard and their university court.
Jalloh revealed that the visual theme for the ceremony is the “Crown Jewel.”
“This is really just cementing your name in the legacy of Howard University as Mister Howard,” Jalloh said. “We really want to bring elegance and the glamour, but also uphold the traditional legacy of what it means to be dressed to be crowned as Mr. Howard.”
Boles also served as Miss College of Arts and Sciences for the 2024-2025 school year. Before holding the position, she served as Miss Residence Life for the 2023-2024 school year.
She emphasized how the Royal court is a family, which is why she’s been involved in it for four years. With the Royal Court Boles has created “life long friendships, mentors and connections.”
“A lot of people have the same initial thought, when you step into these rooms or you try to do something that’s bigger than yourself, you start to doubt if your background or how you grew up could even add impact to the space,” Boles said.
That sense of personal growth and connection extends beyond Boles; across colleges, other Royal Court members describe similar experiences of learning, leading, and supporting one another.
Nia Anderson, a senior fashion design major from Las Vegas, Nevada and Quinn Taylore, a senior acting major from Ellenwood, Georgia, currently hold the titles of Miss and Mister College of Fine Arts (COFA).
“Behind the scenes of court looks a lot like bouncing event ideas off of one another, sharing life advice and stories, and prepping for events together,” Anderson said.
As the coronation approaches, Anderson also emphasized the amount of preparation it requires.
“We’ve been practicing the run of show as well as our goals for Homecoming overall,” Anderson said.
She highlighted how being on the royal court is a big commitment. From conversations on the yard with students to planning various events, she dedicates a few hours a day to her duties.
Taylore’s platform, E.A.S.E., centers on creating opportunities for COFA students — encouraging them to “Execute artistry with intention, Aim for excellence, Serve the FINE community, and Elevate opportunities and knowledge.”
“I advocate for COFA students, create initiatives that reflect their needs, and host programs connected to my platform and our college’s creative community,” Taylore said.
Royal Court positions often require frequent traveling and attendance at events, according to Taylore. He said that during busy times like Bison Week or Homecoming, the schedule can be packed — with multiple events a day, travel and on top of official duties. It’s time-consuming, he admits, but worth every moment.
Rosh Morrow, a freshman biology major from Chicago, Illinois, said that as he prepares for Coronation, he finds himself reflecting on when his name was announced as Mr. Freshman — a moment he described as surreal.
“I was shocked, joyful, disbelieving and grateful all at once,” he said. “I’d dreamed about it for so long. The week before had been rough, costume issues, clothes not coming together, but in the end, everything aligned. God doesn’t make mistakes.”
Now, as he represents the class of 2029, Morrow’s mission is clear.
“Representation is about reflection. To represent someone, you have to reflect them. I want my actions to speak louder than my crown,” he said.
That idea of reflective leadership shapes how Morrow approaches his platform and the projects he hopes to bring to life this year.
“Faith is the gateway to the future,” Morrow said, explaining that his spirituality has been the foundation of his growth as a leader. He shared that his faith is what keeps him grounded during times of uncertainty. He believes that holding onto belief can open doors that once felt out of reach.
Morrow and his counterpart, Ryann May, plan to collaborate on initiatives that uplift their peers through faith, creativity and self-expression.
May, a freshman political science major from Atlanta, Georgia, is serving as the 2025-2026 Miss Freshman. Her platform, “Mirror Mirror,” focused on confidence and helping others see their best selves.
“I came to Howard wanting to reinvent myself,” she said. “I wasn’t in student leadership in high school, but here I wanted to challenge myself to be more involved.”
That reinvention became more than a personal goal; it turned into a movement of self-reflection and empowerment across campus. Now, as Miss Freshman, May hopes to use her platform to connect and uplift others.
“It’s not about perks, I don’t get free meals or anything,” she said. “It’s about being relatable and approachable. I’m still a student before I’m a leader.”
May said her partnership with Morrow has made the experience even more rewarding. Together, they will navigate student leadership, organize events and support their peers.
“Just do it. Don’t overthink it. If it’s meant for you, it’ll happen. Howard teaches you that nothing worth having comes easy,” May said as advice to future freshmen dreaming of running for Royal Court. “Leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about learning as you
go and bringing others along with you.
“The Royal Court is meant to cultivate you, not change you,” Morrow said. “If you
don’t know who you are yet, take time to find that first.”
Across every level of the Royal Court, members share a common goal: using their platforms to uplift others and create a lasting impact.
The Royal Court is more than a title — “it’s a family and a source of strength amid the challenges of leadership,” according to Anderson.
Echoing Anderson’s sentiment, Taylore emphasized the close-knit bond among the court members.
“We share a lot of laughs, support each other and create memories together; it’s a lot of love behind the titles,” Taylore said.
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